VACATIONS AND VOYAGES TRAVEL supports the dream of Matt Johnston, 28 year old
Woodbury, Minnesota man and the dream that he has had since 6 years old to one
day Scuba Dive.
Matt has Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy, is on a ventilator 24 hours a day, and
in a wheelchair, and he is now only able to use his thumbs and hands to toggle
the controls on his wheelchair. His dream poses significant challenges to say
the least. He would need an underwater capable ventilator in order to dive.
That type of scuba apparatus has not been designed yet. According to experts,
patients with Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy are not expected to live beyond 40
years old, which makes time of the essence for Matt. With the recent death of
his nurse and best-friend, Matt realized that he needed to pursue his dream
vigilantly.
Through Matt's website, www.scubadivingdream.com
and the power of the Internet, word of Matt's dream has gone beyond the
diving world into articles published worldwide.
Matt's willpower is unbelievable and through his efforts, he found a program
that was willing to take his dream on. Through Project Innerspace** a research
program affiliated with a university, Matt may someday get his dream, if they can
raise the estimated $200,000 needed for funding for preliminary engineering
researching and design. See
http://www.divingadream.org
http://www.divingadream.org/MessageFromMatt
http://www.projectinnerspace.org/PressReleases.html
Charitable contributions are starting to trickle in. Meanwhile, Matt is working
on other ways to raise money. Last week he began selling merchandise at
www.zazzle.com
an online marketplace. He is selling custom-made T-shirts, sweatshirts, tank tops
and polo shirts featuring his diving dream logo. A percentage of the sales will
go toward the project, and Matt said he also would like diving stores to sell
the shirts. Those interested in purchasing the shirts should type "Matt Johnston"
into the search area. See www.BottomBunchDiveClub.com
I first corresponded with Matt online in August 2004 before Project Innerspace
accepted his project. Both scuba diving aficionados, I encouraged him to live
his dream and he encouraged me to do the same. I felt ashamed that his will-power
and tenacity was so much stronger than mine. He is a joy to know. I hope to meet
him in person someday soon. But for now, we will buy his t-shirts and support his
dream!
**Project Innerspace has established its Innerspace Development Program for purposes
of acquiring, developing, and integrating technologies to support manned ocean
exploration to depths approaching the continental shelf 200-1000feet).
The program has two initial focuses:
.: Bioexploration: Exploration of the biological and chemical potential of
the innerspace environment. This program is closely intertwined with and supports
the biotechnology industry by facilitating explorations leading to the discovery
of new marine resources, and through supporting research that addresses critical
human health issues.
.: Systems Integration: Development of an integrated life system package
allowing manned exploration within this range, and afford him with the tools and
techniques to efficiently explore and conduct science within this alien environment.
____________________________________________________________________
Friends
To Jim, Shelly and Cody C. We are thinking of you.
To Melissa V. I won't ever forget you.
To B - thank you for everything.
ST & DL - thank you for your encouragement & support.
RAS - I couldn't have done it without you.
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